City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Desert Palms, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Desert Palms - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

6,522
Residents
$81,954
Median income
$526,500
Median home
$2,201
Median rent (state)

Desert Palms - the verdict

Desert Palms ranks in the 64th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

64th
percentile, household income
86th
percentile, home value
86th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Desert Palms, CA

Desert Palms is a small town in California, home to 6,522 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $81,954 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.4%. Home values in Desert Palms run a median of $526,500, and the median resident age is 76.2 years. Educational attainment runs 48.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 14.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,201 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

6,522 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$81,954 /yr

Poverty 9.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Desert Palms compare to other US cities?

Desert Palms measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 64% higher than other cities
Home value 86% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Desert Palms against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Desert Palms toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Desert Palms ranks #287 - the 80th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Desert Palms only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#751 of 1,338
44th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#734 of 1,458
47th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#666 of 1,343
50th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#531 of 1,450
63rd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#287 of 1,458
80th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

64thIncome percentile

64th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Desert Palms's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$526,500 14th percentile more affordable than 14% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Desert Palms $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Desert Palms, CA Desert Palms, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Desert Palms, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Desert Palms, CA median $81,954/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Desert Palms, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Desert Palms, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 48.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 14.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
6,522
Median Income
$81,954
Median Home Value
$526,500
Median Age
76.2
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Labor force participation
14.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
48.9%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
57.4%
Carpool
4.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
38.0%

Based on 927 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Desert Palms sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,201/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Calipatria
6,549 people
Colusa
6,439 people
Jamul
6,617 people
Huron
6,425 people
Rancho Calaveras
6,619 people
Thermalito
6,645 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Desert Palms's 6,522 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Swarthmore, PA
6,524 people
Gulf Breeze, FL
6,519 people
Morrow, GA
6,519 people
Milford, OH
6,525 people
Kathleen, FL
6,527 people
Gulf Park Estates, MS
6,517 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Desert Palms's $81,954 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ozona, TX
$81,957 median income
New Cumberland, PA
$81,947 median income
Point Hope, AK
$81,944 median income
Morrisonville, IL
$81,944 median income
Princeville, IL
$81,944 median income
St. Charles, IA
$81,944 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Desert Palms, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Desert Palms, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.5% White 93.0% Black or African American 2.5% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 2.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Desert Palms compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Desert Palms (this city) 6,522 $81,954
Calipatria 6,549 $52,672
Colusa 6,439 $68,750
Jamul 6,617 $148,740
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Desert Palms, CA?

What is the population of Desert Palms, CA? +

The population of Desert Palms, CA stands at 6,522 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Desert Palms, CA? +

The median household income in Desert Palms is $81,954 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Desert Palms? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Desert Palms; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Desert Palms, CA? +

The median home value in Desert Palms is $526,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.